The source added: “People think it’s unbelievable and unfair that the EastEnders lot are able to make massive amounts of money for just a few weeks work whereas the Corrie bosses simply won’t budge”, said the insider.

“Quite simply people can make as much, if not more for three of four weeks work over Christmas and New Year than they can make in an entire year.

Roxy Simmons will be a wicked witch in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

“People were reacting with the likes of, 'If they can do it why can’t we?' Some of the younger cast aren’t on a lot of money so to be able to boost their income in this way would be a dream come true for them.

“There was a feeling at the start of the year that the continued ban on cast members doing panto would be relaxed – but it is clearly still a bug bear and the fact that someone came in with the list of EastEnders stars didn’t help!”